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Q. Life, p. xvii.

STATE OF EUROPE.

This tract is supposed by Mallet to have been the first work written by Lord Bacon, and to have been written about the year 1580, when he was between nineteen and twenty years of age--because it states, "that Henry III. of France was then thirty years old now that king began his reign in 1576, at the age of twenty-four years, so that Bacon was then nineteen." How far this evidence is satisfactory, may be collected from other parts of the same tract. It says, "Gregory XIII. of the age of seventy years"-but Gregory XIII. was seventy years old in the year 1572, when he was elected Pope, so that, according to this reasoning, it might be inferred that it was written when Bacon was twelve years of age. In another part of the tract it states, "The King of Spain, Philip, son to Charles the Fifth, about sixty years of age:" but he was born on the 21st of May, 1527, so that he was sixty years old in 1587, when Bacon was between sixteen and seventeen years old.-The author of Bacon's Life, in the Biographia Britannica, from these different dates, concludes that the tract was written at different periods of time, beginning, as he must suppose, when Bacon was quite a boy; but, as it was not necessary for the purposes of this tract that the ages of the different monarchs should be ascertained with great precision, it is, perhaps, not probable that they were accurately examined, and the only fair inference is, that it was written at a very early period of his life.*

The same author says, "But what is extremely remarkable in this small treatise, is the care and accuracy with which he has set down most of the little princes in Germany, with the state of their dominions." This minute observation, however, extends to all his works and of all the extraordinary properties of Bacon's wonderful mind, his constant observation of what we, in common parlance, call trifles, appears to be one of the most extraordinary. He says that whoever will not attend to matters because they are too minute or trifling, shall never obtain command or rule over nature. The nature of every thing is best seen in its smallest portions. The philosopher, while he gazed upwards to the stars, fell into the water, but if he had looked down he might have seen the stars in the water. The property of the loadstone was discovered in needles of iron, and not in bars of iron. He who cannot dilate the sight of his mind, should consider whether it is not better for a man in a fair room to set up one great light or branching candlestick of lights, than to go about with a small watchcandle into every corner.

R. Life, p. xxii.

His tract upon Universal Justice was published in 1623, in the treatise De Augmentis Scientiarum, and will afterwards be explained. See Note C C postea.

His different works upon practical parts of the law are: 1st. Elements of the Common Law, including Maxims of the Law, and the Use of the Law; 2ndly. A Treatise on the Statute of Uses; 3rdly. A Treatise on the Office of Constables; and 4thly. An Account of the Office for Alienations; the particulars of which will be mentioned in the order of time in which they were written.

He wrote several tractates upon that subject, wherein though some great masters of the law did outgo him in bulk and particularities of cases, yet in the science of the grounds and mysteries of the law he was exceeded by none.Rawley.

The tract says, "D. Antonio, elect King of Portugal, is now in France, where he hath levied soldiers, whereof part are embarked, hoping to be restored again."

VOL. XV.

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Bacon's love of contemplation may be seen in various parts of his works. In a letter to the Lord Treasurer of 21st of March, 1594, he says, This last request I find it more necessary for me to make because (though I am glad of her majesty's favour, that I may with more ease practise the law, which percase I may use now and then for my countenance,) yet to speak plainly, though perhaps vainly, I do not think that the ordinary practice of the law, not serving the queen in place, will be admitted for a good account of the poor talent that God hath given me, so as I make reckoning, I shall reap no great benefit to myself in that course.

In a letter to Essex, dated March 30, 1594, he says: "When I say I revolve all this, I cannot but conclude with myself, that no man ever read a more exquisite disgrace; and therefore truly, my lord, I was determined, if her majesty reject me, this to do. My nature can take no evil ply; but I will, by God's assistance, with this disgrace of my fortune, and yet with that comfort of the good opinion of so many honourable and worthy persons, retire myself, with a couple of men to Cambridge, and there spend my life in my studies and contemplations without looking back."

To my Lord of Essex.

It may please your good Lordship,—I pray God her majesty's weighing be not like the weight of a balance, “gravia deorsum, levia sursum." But I am as far from being altered in devotion towards her as I am from distrust that she will be altered in opinion towards me when she knoweth me better. For myself I have lost some opinion, some time, and some means; this is my account: but then, for opinion, it is a blast that goeth and cometh; for time, it is true, it goeth and cometh not; but yet I have learned that it may be redeemed. For means, I value that most; and the rather, because I am purposed not to follow the practice of the law: if her majesty command me in any particular I shall be ready to do her willing service; and my reason is only because it drinketh too much time, which I have dedicated to better purposes. But even, for that point of estate and means I partly lean to Thales' opinion, "that a philosopher may be rich if he will." Thus your lordship seeth how I comfort myself; to the increase whereof I would fain please myself to believe that to be true which my Lord Treasurer writeth, which is, that it is more than a philosopher morally can digest; but without any such high conceit, I esteem it like the pulling out of an aching tooth, which I remember when I was a child, and had little philosophy, I was glad of when it was done. For your lordship, I do think myself more beholding to you than to any man; and I say I reckon myself as a common, (not popular but common,) and as much as is lawful to be enclosed as a common, so much your lordship shall be sure to have.-Your Lordship's to obey your honourable commands more settled than ever.

In a letter to the Lord Treasurer in 1594, he says, I will use no reason to persuade your lordship's mediation but this, that your lordship and my other friends shall in this beg my life of the queen; for I see well the bar will be my bier, as I must and will use it rather than my poor estate or reputation shall decay; but I stand indifferent whether God call me or her majesty. Had I that in possession which by your lordship's only means against the greatest opposition her majesty granted me, I would never trouble her majesty, but serve her still voluntarily without pay.

The following is from the dedication, in 1597, to the first edition of his Essays, to his brother who was lame: "I have preferred them to you, that are next myself, dedicating them, such as they are, to our love, in the depth whereof, I assure you, I sometimes wish your infirmities translated upon myself, that her majesty might have the service of so active and able a mind, and I might be with excuse confined to these contemplations and studies for which I am fittest."

In a letter to the King, April 1, 1616, he says:

It may please your most excellent Majesty,-The last day when it pleased your majesty to express yourself towards me in favour, far above that I can deserve, or could expect, I was surprised by the prince's coming in; I most humbly pray your majesty, therefore, to accept these few lines of acknowledgment. I never had great thoughts for my self, farther than to maintain those great thoughts which I confess I have for your service. I know what honour is, and I know what the times are; but I thank God with me my service is the principal, and it is far from me, under honourable pretences, to cover base desires, which I account them to be, when men refer too much to themselves, especially serving such a king, I am afraid of nothing, but that the master of the horse, your excellent servant, and myself, shall fall out about this, who shall hold your stirrup best; but were your majesty mounted, and seated without difficulties and distaste in your business, as I desire and hope to see you, I should "ex animo" desire to spend the decline of my years in my studies, wherein also I should not forget to do him honour, who besides his active and politic virtues, is the best pen of kings, and much more the best subject of a pen. God ever preserve your majesty. Your Majesty's most humble subject, and more and more obliged servant.

To Sir Thomas Bodley.

:

Sir,—I think no man may more truly say, with the psalm, Multum incola fuit anima mea,* than my self; for I do confess since I was of any understanding, my mind hath in effect been absent from that I have done and in absence are many errors, which I do willingly acknowledge; and amongst the rest, this great one that led the rest; that knowing myself by inward calling to be fitter to hold a book, than to play a part, I have led my life in civil causes; for which I was not very fit by nature, and more unfit by the preoccupation of my mind.

Tennison says, To the like purpose in a MS. letter to the Lord Chancellor Egerton, which I have sometimes perused; he says: "I am not so deceived in myself, but that I know very well (and I think your lordship is major Corde, and in your wisdom you note it more deeply than I can in my self) that in practising the law, I play not my best game, which maketh me accept with a nisi quid potius, as the best of my fortune, and a thing better agreeable to better gifts than mine but not to mine." And it appeareth by what he hath said in a letter to the Earl of Essex, that he once thought not to practise in his profession. "I am purposed," said he, "not to follow the practice of the law; and my reason is only because it drinketh too much time, which I have devoted to better purposes."

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Upon taking his seat in Chancery, he says, Only the depth of the three long vacations I would reserve in some measure free from business of estate, and for studies, arts and sciences, to which in my own nature I am most inclined."

T. Life, p. xxiii.

The apartments in which Lord Bacon resided are said to be at No. 1, Gray's Inn Square, on the north side, one pair of stairs; I visited them in June 1832. They are said to be, and they appear to be in the same state in which they must have been for the last two centuries; handsome oak wainscot and a beautiful ornament over the chimney-piece. In the garden there was, till within the last three or four years, a small elevation surrounded by trees, called Lord Bacon's mount, and there was a legend that the trees were planted by him; they were removed to raise the new building now on the west side of the garden, and they stood about three-fourths from the south end. In the books in the Steward's Office there are many of Lord Bacon's autographs of his admission, when he was a bencher, of the different students.

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To Lord Burghley.

It may please your good Lordship,-I am sorry the joint mask from the four inns of court faileth, wherein I conceive there is no other ground of that event but impossibility. Nevertheless, because it falleth out that at this time Grey's Inn is well furnished of gallant young gentlemen, your lordship may be pleased to know that rather than this occasion shall pass without some demonstration of affection from the inns of court, there are a dozen gentlemen of Grey's Inn, that out of the honour which they bear to your lordship and my Lord Chamberlain, to whom at their last mask they were so much bounden, will be ready to furnish a mask, wishing it were in their powers to perform it according to their minds. And so for the present I humbly take my leave, resting your Lordship's very humble and much bounden, FR. BACON.

Dugdale, in his account of Bacon, says in 42 Eliz. being double reader in that house, and affecting much the ornament thereof, he caused that beautiful grove of elms to be planted in the walks, which yet remain. Orig. Ju. 272. b. I next come to the walks, and of these the first mention that I find is in 40 Eliz. Mr. Bacon being upon his account made 4 Julii, allowed the sum of viil xs iiiid laid out for planting elms in them, of which elms some died, as it seems; for at a pension held here, 14 Nov. 41 Eliz. there was an order made for a present supply of more young elms, in the places of such as were deceased: and that a new rayle and quickset hedge should be set upon the upper long walk, at the discretion of the same Mr. Bacon and Mr. Wilbraham; which being done, amounted to the charge of Ix vi viiid, as by the said Mr. Bacon's account allowed 29 Apr. 42 Eliz. appears.

V. Life, p. xxiii.

See Camden, Strype, Dugdale, and the other writers of Elizabeth's reign. See Biographica Britannica, title Bacon.

X. Life, p. xxv.

It is said that the Queen, upon Spenser presenting some poems to her, ordered him a gratuity of an hundred pounds, but that the Lord Treasurer Burleigh objecting to it, said with some scorn of the poet, What! all this for a song? The Queen replied, Then give him what is reason. Spenser waited for some time, but had the mortification to find himself disappointed of the Queen's intended bounty. Upon this he took a proper opportunity to present a paper to Queen Elizabeth, in the manner of a petition, in which he reminded her of the orders she had given, in the following lines:

I was promised on a time

To have reason for my rhime,
From that time unto this season

I received nor rhyme nor reason.

This paper produced the desired effect, and the Queen, not without some reproof of the treasurer, immediately directed the payment of the hundred pounds she had first ordered. Life of Spenser.

Y. Life, p. xxvi.

In his apology respecting Lord Essex, he says, It is well known, how I did many years since dedicate my travels and studies to the use, and, as I may term it, service of my lord of Essex, which I protest before God, I did not, making election of him as the likeliest mean of mine own advancement, but out of the humour of a man, that ever from the time I had any use of reason, whether it were reading upon good books, or upon the example of a good father, or by nature, I loved my country more than was answerable to my fortune; and I held at that time my lord to be the fittest instrument to do good to the state, and therefore I applied myself to him in a manner which I think happeneth rarely among men: for I did not only labour carefully and industriously in that

he set me about, whether it were matter of advice or otherwise, but, neglecting the queen's service, mine own fortune, and in a sort my vocation, I did nothing but advise and ruminate with myself, to the best of my understanding, propositions, and memorials of any thing that might concern his lordship's honour, fortune, or service. And when, not long after I entered into this course, my brother, Mr. Anthony Bacon, came from beyond the seas, being a gentleman whose ability the world taketh knowledge of for matters of state, especially foreign, I did likewise knit his service to be at my lord's disposing.

Z. Life, p. xxvi.

Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Burghley.

My Lord,-With as much confidence as mine own honest and faithful devotion unto your service, and your honourable correspondence unto me and my poor estate can breed in a man, do I commend myself unto your lordship. I wax now somewhat ancient; one and thirty years is a great deal of sand in the hour-glass. My health, I thank God, I find confirmed, and I do not fear that action shall impair it; because 1 account my ordinary course of study and meditation to be more painful than most parts of action are. I ever bear a mind, in some middle place that I could discharge, to serve her majesty; not as a man born under Sol that loveth honour; nor under Jupiter that loveth business, for the contemplative planet carrieth me away wholly but as a man born under an excellent sovereign, that deserveth the dedication of all men's abilities. Besides I do not find in myself so much self-love, but that the greater parts of my thoughts are to deserve well, if I were able, of my friends, and namely of your lordship; who being the Atlas of this commonwealth, the honour of my house, and the second founder of my poor estate, I am tied by all duties, both of a good patriot, and of an unworthy kinsman, and of an obliged servant, to employ whatsoever I am, to do you service. Again, the meanness of my estate doth somewhat move me for though I cannot accuse myself, that I am either prodigal or slothful, yet my health is not to spend, nor my course to get. Lastly, I confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, as I have moderate civil ends; for I have taken all knowledge to be my providence; and if I could purge it of two sorts of rovers, whereof the one with frivolous disputations, confutations, and verbosities: the other with blind experiments and auricular traditions and impostures, hath committed so many spoils; I hope I should bring in industrious observations, grounded conclusions, and profitable inventions and discoveries; the best state of that providence. This, whether it be curiosity, or vain glory, or nature, or, if one take it favourably, philanthropia, is so fixed in my mind, as it cannot be removed. And I do easily see, that place of any reasonable countenance doth bring commandment of more wits than of a man's own, which is the thing I greatly affect. And for your lordship, perhaps you shall not find more strength and less encounter in any other. And if your lordship shall find now or at any time, that I do seek or affect any place, whereunto any that is nearer unto your lordship shall be concurrent, say then that I am a most dishonest man. And if your lordship will not carry me on, I will not do as Anaxagoras did, who reduced himself with contemplation unto voluntary poverty: but this I will do, I will sell the inheritance that I have, and purchase some lease of quick revenue, or some office of gain, that shall be executed by deputy, and so give over all care of service, and become some sorry bookmaker, or a true pioneer in that mine of truth, which, he said, lay so deep. This which I have writ unto your lordship, is rather thoughts than words, being set down without all art, disguising, or reservation: wherein I have done honour both to your lordship's wisdom, in judging that that will be best believed of your lordship which is truest; and to your lordship's good nature, in retaining nothing from you. And even so, I wish your lordship all happiness, and to myself means and occasion to be added to my faithful desire to do you service. From my lodging at Gray's Inn.

* Province.

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